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Vitamin C Cures and Side Effects

Updated: 11/20/2009

DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.

SHINGLES

1 YEA

[YEA]  01/14/2008: RJ from Cleveland, Ohio writes: "I recently had a shingles, which I never knew anything about until now. This web site was a big help in helping me understand the disease and what I could do about it.

I actually used multiple remedies to help cure shingles and the excruciating pain that went along with it. I went to a doctor to find out what it was and he confirmed that it was shingles and prescribed Valtrex an antiviral pill (which will not kill the virus), 1 per day for 10 days. I did take it but it didn't do a thing for the outbreak or the pain.

First thing I did was start taking Vitamin C 1000 mg fizzy packets x 3 every hour, by the fourth or fifth hour, I had diarrhea. Not a problem, cut it back to 1000 mg every 3 hours for the next 2 days. This helps to jump start the immune system and Vitamin C doesn't build up in the body and you can't get enough from fruits and vegetables. I also started taking l-lysine 2 tablets in the morning and 2 before bed (1500 mg each time). This also helps to boost immune system and kill the virus. Unfortunately, I did have to take some ibuprofen for the pain from time to time but that was only one or sometimes twice a day for a few days. I also took twice a day 2 ounces of apple cider vinegar mixed with either orange juice or grape juice (not at the same time as the vitamins) until the outbreak was gone.

For the outbreak, I tried putting zinc oxide cream (the worst thing to do) on the outbreak, it did nothing and it was painful to get off because it is made with petroleum. I also tried honey for its' ability to heal, it may have helped but it was messy and I didn't see any results. I did put tea tree oil on for a full day and it seemed to keep it from spreading but I did not see a lot of healing. I then took and put apple cider vinegar directly on the sores and wrapped them in cellophane to keep from drying out and left on for 2 hours. It was painful but it really brought out the sores. I then took baking soda and sea salt mixed with water and applied with a wet wash cloth and let sit on for an hour and then reapplied a few times. This felt great because it had a cooling effect on the sores and took away a lot of the pain. I used to have acne as a teenager and we would go to the beach in the summer and every year, my acne clear up like I had none at all, so I tried it and immediately the sores began to heal. I only needed to use for one to two days for the baking soda and salt water and only once for the apple cider vinegar. Once everything was dried up, I put some calamine lotion on for help with itching and I was surprised when it eliminated the dark marks from where the sores were. For the pain that continued after the sores, I thought it would go away, but unfortunately, it hung around a while and made life tough. I finally tried vitamin E d-alpha, not dl-alpha 1200 IU's twice a day and the pain went away after 2 days. I read that Vitamin C and Vitamin E should be taken together so I took 1000 mg of Vitamin C with the Vitamin E at the same time.

Also, watch your diet and eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. There are some that say the virus uses foods like nuts and chocolate as food to grow and survive, so starve it and you have a better chance that the natural remedies will kill and eat the virus.

Good Luck and I hope this helps someone because many of these same things worked for others and I know that they helped me a lot. Thanks to those that shared."

SIDE EFFECTS

28 SIDE EFFECTS
1 QUESTION

[SIDE EFFECTS]  11/20/2009: Rupa from Canada, On writes: "Does Vitamin C causes hair fall? I have been asked by doctor to take iron tablet as my hair was falling. I learned that iron tab (300mg) taken with Vitamin C helps to absorb iron (folic acid) faster. So I took together Vitamin C and iron tablet. But to my surprise my hair fall increased as never before. The rate of fall is higher. I almost lost so many hair. I am confused why it is so. May be Vitamin C is acidic in nature and that may causes hair fall? Or It is some thing like fall is the season for hair fall too?"

[QUESTION]  11/04/2009: Rahul from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India writes: "side effect of vitamin c on polio affected person

i sir/madam, my name is Rahul and i am handicapped (affected by polio) my age 20 years. And i have polio since i was 5years. i read an article on internet of Dr. klenner about vitamin C helps to cure polio but the amount of vitamin C is mentioned is very high (400mg) per kilogram of weight in every 2hours so i just want to if i take vitamin C in such massive amount then is ther a chances of any side effects and what are they? please help me.Thanking you"

11/04/2009: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Re: Polio and Vitamin C Side Effects -

The side effects from a massive dose of vitamin C is diarrhea. At 400 mg per kilo taken every 2 hours, if we assume a person's weight is 60 kilos, the total dose amounts to 24,000 mg. I believe the dose is high. However, my own approach towards killing any virus, or bacteria lies in the frequency of dose rather than the amount of dose. The other is a combination of other supplements has synergy and hence the dose can be further reduced by 1/2.

Vitamin C has antiviral properties and it's weakly antiviral and this is why the dose is so large. However, it's possible to reduce from 24,000 mg to just 12,000 mg hourly dose. My experience in killing viruses is that the frequency of dose is ideally between 30 minutes to 1 hour. Therefore it's also possible to reduce from 12,000 mg to just 6000 mg if this is taken every 30 minutes. That's an equivalent of 6 tablets/capsules every 30 minutes. There is an indian shilajit (humic acid) that can be applied on the skin when the powder is mixed with water, and taken internally, it's a very broad spectrum antiviral. If that's taken 4 or 5 times a day, I believe the hourly dose of vitamin C 12,000 mg can be reduced also to 6000 mg. If the aspirin were used, the vitamin C will be synergistic and you just need 3000 mg every hour when it's taken with aspirin 500 mg dissolved in a cup of water for only 6 doses per day, not exceeding 3 or 4 days. Most of the polio viruses should be gone in a matter of days (theoretically speaking), and 25 mg of zinc is taken once a day for a week.

The iodine lugol's solution is taken every 3 hours 4 drops for every 3 or 4 hours. These are combination of remedy that should reduce the vitamin C dose to just 3000 mg on a two hourly dose, should make the approach more easily to do in practice. Iodine is kept up for over a week or so. Hence the remedy is carried only for a short period, if done right (in combination or frequency) the viruses usually go away quickly. If they viruses do not die within 3 days to one week, I believe the remedy needs to be redo until which if done properly viruses get killed rather quickly within a matter of days. For instance, I got the swine flu viruses correctly both dose and frequency and it's a one day cure. A few may last up to 2 days, before swine are completely dead, however, one day was more than enough for that case. As in polio if done right (not necessarily this remedy), it should be killed by a week or so."

11/05/2009: K from Sacramento, Ca replies: "Hi Ted,

Your post regarding treatment to eradicate viruses - would this approach work to kill virus newly discovered to be associated with fybromialgia? My daughter has it.

Would it work to clear out Morgellons? I have that.

thank you for helping your fellow man to heal"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  10/04/2009: Jean from Redding, Ca, Usa writes: "I have a very odd situation. Vitamin C causes strange side effects in me and my children. These include small, hard nodules in our fingers, sores in our mouths and bruising on our arms. I am 49, but it has always been this way. my children have the same symptoms. My dad has gout ( I have never had any symptoms of that), but I wonder if the two conditions could be related? Has anyone else had anything like this?"

EC: Please tell us what type of vitamin C you are taking. Thanks!

05/23/2009: Brian from Fort Worth, Tx writes: "for those running out and buying vitamin c at wallmart or even health food stores, theres one thing you need to know, almost all vitamin c supplements contain ascorbic acid, not vitamin c. whole food vitamin c in citrus or plant form is expensive, ascorbic acid as found in cheap supplements is made in a lab. a quick look at the ingredients label of this crap and you see its made from chemicals and crushed rock of all things. ascorbic acid depletes your body of b12, vitamin a and copper. drug companys have flooded the market with this crap and few people seem to know it, my doctor didnt even know it."

05/24/2009: Cindy from Ch, WI replies: "what is the best vitamin c to take?"

08/13/2009: In Waxahachie from Waxahachie, Tx replies: "Where did you get the info on Vit. C depleting A, B12, and Copper? and also that it is a rock? I have no doubts you are correct, but I'd like to read further on the subject. Thanks"

08/15/2009: Rebekah from Athens, Ga replies: "YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN VITAMIN C POWDER!!!! Do this at home and you will know you are taking a high quality supplement straight from the source.
Organic citrus fruits have all the good stuff in their pulp and peel.

-Cut the peels into thin strips and lay them out on cheesecloth, or use a dehydrator to dry out the peels. After a few days, or when fully dry, put the dried peels into a coffee grinder to make into a powder. One spoonfull is said to be all you need for a whole day. Add the powder to your food or drinks, store in an airtight container.
You can use organic grapefruit, tangerines, oranges, lemons or limes. :-)"

EC: Thanks for the tip! We're also adding this to the Vit C section as a "How To" topic.

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/31/2009: Catherine from Seattle, WA writes: "I was fighting a sinus infection last week after landing in California and went to a Whole Foods to get some Vitamin C. I decided to get Emergen-C to add to water because it had a really tempting fruity flavor. Immediately after taking my first packet (which was delicious), I felt a weird sensation in my head and then I got really edgy (as in bad mood edgy). I read the ingredients on the box and sure enough, the vitamin C used in this brand is Aspartic acid, an excitotoxin. The Emergen-C also contained "natural flavors", aka MSG. I waited 24 hours and tried again to see if I would have the same side effects. Again, within a minute of drinking the packet, I got the same sensation in my head. My question is, are you doing more good or harm to the body when you take this form of vitamin c?!! Also, does Whole Foods know what they're selling? I thought they had stricter standards than most health food stores about supplements! I now need to check the ingredients on the dissolvable vitamin c from Trader Joe's that I have at home to see if it's the same stuff. GRRRR!!!"

02/01/2009: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Aspartic acid is a well known excitotoxin and so is monosodium glutamate or MSG. In the long run it's going to destroy the immune system through a neurodegenerative disorder. Once the excitotoxins is destroyed the immune system is down. Now in a pharamaceutical formulation adding this results in the need to take that since you get sicker and so you might feel some relief, the long term is it's going to make a person sicker, which result in greater sales for product with excitotoxins added. Now imagine a child who is a borderline autism, ADHD, these can result in many other neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic acidosis. As for me decades ago I took accidentally soft drinks with aspartame resulting in deafness, but also a permanent partial macular degeneration of the eyes. So the systematic destruction is almost wholesale if given long term use. Luckily Emergen C is not sold in Thailand, although some friends of mind given me this, I don't take it. I prefer to buy bulk vitamin C and mix them myself. There are other excitotoxins, but aspartic acid, aspartame, monosodium glutamate, and glutamic acid are the most well known.

There are other things people need to know that also accelerates aging process besides excitotoxins, well known in research circles, they are ketones and aldehydes. In one study, 36 out of 37 perfumes contain ketones, commonly in the form of musk ketones. Aldhydes are perfumes used in many cometic products, such as Chanel No. 5, but also in many consumer products, such as detergents and soap. The third common one is the bisphenol A, which acts like estrogen found in nearly all canned products that have plastic linings, and benzene, a degradation of sodium benzoate is found in most soft drinks.

I remember a newsreporter who uncovered U.S> black ops, that appeared on "What's My Line", a close friend of Marilyn Monroe, before both are dead mysteriously and the drinking water were heavily added using fluoride and LSD. Thus fluoridation and chlorination, if some of these are used in assassinations, I doubt I want to use them in my drinking water supply.

Therefore most effervescent products sometimes they are not labeled so I ended up calling the factory sometimes. One easy way to measure excitotoxin poisoning is tthat the urinary pH suddenly become very acid, such as pH 5.5 or lower and even taking more baking soda barely raise the pH long enough to be satisfactory. Such as it can't raise the pH for the entire day. It also takes weeks for the pH to be near normal after taking b complex and baking soda for a week or two. A long term taking of this can also resulted in higher urinary sugar and damaged pancreas, besides damaging the brain. One of the worse advertisement I have seen is Michael J. Fox supporting Diet Pepsi, which contains aspartame, and he himself has Parkinson's disease, which will make such conditions much worse. The remedy is not to take aspartame for Parkinson's disease or to undergo stem cells, since it's not yet legal at the moment and stem cell research has been blocked for at least 8 years. Methylene blue taken at 2 drops at 0.1% concentration might reverse some of the effects of excitotoxins as it is one of my remedies for Parkinson's disease also.

Taking excitotoxins is a long term damage that may lead to degenerative disorders, metabolic acidosis, and lowered immune system. Therefore I would avoid them as best as I can.

Ted"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/01/2009: Rosy from Orlando, Fl replies: "I feel the same way after taking the emergen-c. I had to give it way. I didn't know that Aspartic acid was an excitotoxin."

02/01/2009: Joyce from Joelton, Tn. replies: "Hello Catherine:

Unless you consider killing off your brain cells good, ingesting excitotoxins, or neurotoxins is very bad. When you read up on excittoxins, you will find the same two majors so rampant in our processed foods, monosodium glutamate and aspartame, are also blamed for making our bodies kick out excessive insulin which starts us down the progression of insulin resistance and development of diabetes mellitus, type 2. Personally, I don't care to ingest any of them but it is very difficult to avoid them in our foods these days.

Russell Blaylock tells us that any hydrolyzed plant (corn, soy, pea, etc) protein is the most deadly form of all of MSG because it kills off two different types of neurons, because it contains both MSG and aspartame. Since this would hold true for ingredients listing both monosodium glutamate and aspartame in the ingredients, stay away from those foods containing either one these toxins. Read labels carefully before buying as I have found a couple of canned vegetables listing ingredients: monosodium glutamate, spices, hydrolyzed plant protein, and natural flavors all on the same label.

To make this story more pitiful, they were not at the end of the ingredients list and the ingredients are supposed to be listed beginning with what it contains most of first and listing those with very small amounts last."

02/01/2009: Dianna from Austin, TX replies: "wow! i am upset by this. i have been taking emergen-c for years and i didn't know that this was anything other than an amino acid.

so - i need to find another vitamin/mineral blend that is easy to take. i just looked up airborne's ingredients and am sad to say that they contain acesulfame potassium which is an artificial sweetener... as well as sorbitol...

can anyone give me the name of a product that is similar to these and is safe?
thanks
djh"

02/02/2009: Sandy from In the sticks, Nevada replies: "Thank you Catherine in Seattle for sharing this. I would not have known -- just goes to show that a person needs to read the label on everything -- even "trusted" products that seem healthy. I would like to give everyone a heads up on two other problem products within our food supply. There may be a few of you that have not heard that there is yet another reason to avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup -- mercury! Here is a link I found -- http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/1/26/132619/467 --but go ahead and google this yourself. Also, to my horror, I purchased a bottle of Balsamic vinegar the other day, used some and then noticed on the label, A LEAD WARNING! I am still researching this, but wanted to share a link with you http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/01/18/why-is-there-lead-in-my-balsamic-vinegar/

Evidently a person would have to consume a lot of vinegar to reach the lead level in California's Proposition 65. Even so, I feel that I don't need any extra lead :), so I am going to start buying certified lead free vinegar. I know that I am probably ingesting other toxic things in my food, but what is a person to do? I just say a little prayer over my food and try to do the best I can with what I know."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  02/02/2009: Patricia from Elmont, NY replies: "emergen-c caused a herpes simplex outbreak. I was shopping at Trader Joes and I picked up a pack of emergen-c. thinking that it will supply me with needed vit-c. I took one packet right at the store with water that I bought there. I felt really weird after taking it. I read the ingredients and I noticed natural flavors and natural sucrose. I know from previous time that anything edible containing natural flavours it is MSG. No sooner did I get into my car to leave,my lip became inflamed and I had the start of a cold sore. I returned to the store and got my money back. I later spoke to the manager about the situation and he said he cannot pull anything off the shelf. It has to be done by headquarters. Now I only depend on good quality Vit C. Emergen-C is on my not-to-buy-list!"

02/02/2009: Catherine from San Fran, CA replies: "hi, Dianne. Yes, they've been adding aspartame to Airborne since the teacher who invented the formula sold it to a big pharma company (if I am recalling this correctly). Amazing how they try and hide the toxic ingredients with all sorts of other names! We all really have to keep up with the latest research in order to notice the changing names."

02/20/2009: Earth Clinic replies: "We went to Whole Foods last week, and Trader Joes today, and checked out the ingredients of the Emergen-C sold at both stores. None of the ingredients in any of the Emergen-C boxes listed aspartic acid as the form of vitamin c. It was all vitamin c in the form of Asorbic Acid. Readers from other territories (outside Atlanta), if you get a chance to look, please report your findings. Thanks!"

02/20/2009: Renate from Parrish, FL, USA replies: "I purchased my Emergen-C at Walmart. It contains Vit C as ascorbic acid, zinc ascorbate, chromium ascorbate, but below at the bottom after other ingredients: fructose, citric acid, natural flavors, tapicopa maltodextrin, malic acid, silica, gylcine, aspartic acid, tartaric acid, cysteine hydrochloride. I can't believe that ingredients would be different depending upon where purchased."

EC: Ah ha! Thank you, we didn't scroll down that far... certainly explains it.

02/20/2009: Franklin from Vancouver, BC, Canada replies: "Hi, I got my EmergenC at Whole Foods in Vancouver (925 Main St location). Packaging says the C is from aspartic acid, not asorbic acid."

03/20/2009: Dianna from Austin, TX replies: "i have a question about vitamin and mineral supplements. for several years i took emergen-C daily. however recently after reading about it containing excito toxins and checking the label and seeing that and perhaps MSG - i stopped. now i am only taking a multi vitamin and some triphala powder (very high in vit. c) and also some ACV each day. my question is: does anyone know a good replacement for emergen-C? i don't want to take a bunch of pills, would prefer a powder i can mix in water or juice. i am just worried that now i am not getting enough minerals!

OR SHOULD I JUST START TAKING THE EMERGEN-C AGAIN??? help!
i never really had any side effects that i could tell from it."

12/17/2008: Christine from Virginia Beach, VA writes: "Have been reading your Vitamin C section; I do so wish you would have a link to Dr. Klenner's paper on Vitamin C, particularly the pregnancy section. Dr. K. was able to help expectant mothers who would have died otherwise by prescribing Vitamin C for them. In fact, the mothers who took Dr. Klenner's prescribed doses of Vitamin C had no stretch marks and easy births.

Sometimes you need an objective health professional to tell you whether taking Vitamin C is related to symptoms that you are experiencing. Or is it a component of the Vitamin C, such as aspartic acid, or the type of Vitamin C you are taking? E.g. taking straight ascorbic acid in water can corrode your digestive tract because Vitamin C is an acid. That's why it's usually buffered with sodium. If you take calcium ascorbate, be sure to balance it with magnesium citrated (magnesium oxide is not readily absorbed).

As for a person being "allergic" to Vitamin C, that is impossible. Vitamin C is a universal detoxifier. High doses of Vitamin C are used to stop hayfever. It has to be a component of the tablet, not the Vitamin C, that is causing an allergic reaction."

EC: Here is a link we found on Google to "Clinical Guide to the Use of Vitamin C" by Dr. Klenner. http://www.seanet.com/~alexs/ascorbate/198x/smith-lh-clinical_guide_1988.htm

If you have another link, please send it along!

[SIDE EFFECTS]  12/09/2008: Philip Lim from Makati, Philippines writes: "Can vitamin c cause urinary tract burning sensation and hair lose? I take 1000 mg daily for one year. is it overdose? Im 45 yrs old."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/10/2008: Wes from Webster, TX writes: "I'm 220 and work out almost everyday. I started taking 2000mg of vitamin C. Ester C tablets. A few days later I noticed I was very easily enraged. I did this for about 4 weeks and decided it wasn't worth it. I recently started taking and animal pack vitamin package. After taking for several days I noticed the same effect. Read the ingredient 2000 mg Vitamin C. So I stopped taking it. Is there anyway to counteract the aggressiveness. IE some other vitamin."

Ted from Bangkok replies: "First off 2000 mg of vitamin C is too much, for an oil soluble Ester C. Most remedies I used revolves around the use of a much safer water soluble sodium ascorbate. To reduce the problem of ester C is to remove them. Since ester C is oil soluble, one tablespoon of granulated lecithin is preferably three or four times a day to displace it, and drink plenty of water. The other thing that may reduce rage effects is taking plenty of amino acid supplements plus some added tryptophan amino acid. A 1/2 teaspoon baking soda in 1/2 glass of water taken at least twice a day may also further reduce the problem. A neutral pH ester C is really acid for the body as the body is generally more alkaline than the ester C, and hence the baking soda remedy is used.

Another that might be useful in brain biochemistry, to reduce this problem is the flaxseed oil and fish oil, to protect normal brain function, besides the other remedies already considered."

11/04/2008: Christine replies: "This afternoon, I visited your site and noted a comment by a reader who said that Ester C made him enraged. It's not the Vitamin C, it's the aspartic acid in the Ester C product. I verified this with an aspartame activist. Aspartic acid is an excitotoxin, a poison that kills brain cells. Yep, it's the same stuff as in aspartame. All of the studies done on Vitamin C were done with sodium ascorbate, which is a type of chemically buffered Vitamin C. It's best to take it as a powder in water, because you can get gastritis if you take too many pills.

Hope that helps,
Christine

http://www.aspartame.ca/page_a7.html

"Aspartic acid is an amino acid. Well, amino acids are good for us, right? Don't they keep us healthy ? The answer is yes, amino acids are necessary for good health, EXCEPT when you separate the individual amino acid from its protein chain, and use it as an "isolate" or by itself. (S.Sawada, et al '98)

In aspartame, these become synergistic toxins; one component playing off the other in a dangerous, systemic downward spiral. This eventually gives way to clinical manifestations; "hard-to-diagnose" health complications, and a myriad of medical symptoms and illnesses, which can eventually cause irreversible medical complications and death.

Aspartic acid, in aspartame, is an excitotoxin. An excitotoxin, is a deleterious substance that excites or over stimulates nerve cells. This occurs in the brain, as well as the peripheral nerves, because aspartic acid, in free form, easily crosses the blood-brain barrier. This pathological excitation of nerve cells creates a breakdown of nerve function, as we will see. (L.E.Rosenberg, McGraw-Hill 1991)"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  11/21/2008: Roxanne from Easton, Pennsylvania replies: "I found the information about aspartame in Ester C product interesting. I've had two spinal fusion and my Doctor wants me to take vitiman C for healthy cell growth etc. I could not take regular vitamin C after awhile needing nexium for months. I switched to Ester C. 6 months ago taking 500-1000mgs. a day. I had have a burning, tingling and pain in legs for months only getting extremely worse over the past 2 months. Now I am taking Neurontin 300mg;bid. My neurosurgeon wants me to go through an EMG again. I've been throught every MRI/scan to rule out my fusions/nerves at spine. After reading this and how aspartame can effect peripheral nerves it makes sense. It must be the Ester C? Thanks again for the insight."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  12/11/2007: Kat from Albuquerque, New Mexico writes: "I just wanted to comment on a reply were you stated that vitamin c can help prevent miscarriage. ascorbic acid (synthetic vit c i believe) is actually and abortificient in early term pregnancy, so you should be sure to note that unless a woman is trying to terminate a pregnancy, she should never take ascorbic acid while pregnant (ascorbic acid is the main ingredient in most off brand and lower priced vit c supplements.)"

10/07/2008: DarenM from Trenton, MI replies: "Kat,

Ascorbic acid IS Vitamin C. Just the scientific name. It by no means refers to the ingredient in "off brand" and "lower priced" vitamin C supplements. Other ways you may see it on the back of bottles and such is "sodium ascorbate" or "calcium ascorbate" which is actually mineral vitamin C and can help people who suffer any heatburn problems from taking to much ascorbic acid. The sodium, and calcium ascorbates are cut as to not be so acidic. The downside is that you need to watch your intake as i think calcium is NOT water soluable. As far as it being used for miscarriages, I doubt it. You'd have to take quite a bit."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  11/08/2007: JD from NYC writes: "I remember that my brother used to get nose bleeds when he took too much vitamin c when he was sick during college years. I can take up to 3,000 milligrams of Ester C for about 3 days before I get diarrhea. I know at that point to stop because my system can't take it anymore. Interestingly, the sicker I am, the more C I can take without the diarrhea."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  10/10/2007: Annie from Chicago, IL writes: "I got a facial for the first time in my life four days ago and the vitamin C products the aesthetician used seems to have caused a reaction on my skin. I have a rash all over my forehead, although it is not red. It's more like a breakout, except when I scratch it, it is itchy--unlike acne. This seems to be a mild allergic reaction to vitamin C. I am worried because my wedding is this weekend! Has anyone had a similar experience and can I expect it to go away in a couple days?"

11/08/2007: Jennifer from Denver, CO replies: "RE: VITAMIN C PRODUCTS CAUSED FACIAL RASH 10/10/2007: Annie I have the same problem, athough I myself am an esthetician. I cannot use C or A on my face without a similar reaction. Ironically, the C products are prescribed for sensiteive skin!"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  08/08/2007: Eve from Upper Marlboro, MD writes: "I've had an allergy to vitamin c since birth. As a child, my parents observed rashes on my face and body when I consumed too much vitamin c. Now, as an adult, I have acne breakouts when I eat oranges, or drink juices or take supplements with higher than 100% of the daily value of vitamin c. I'm assuming my body is highly acidic. My dad tells me to try taking vitamin c in liquid form. Is it possible that this would prevent the breakouts?"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  09/27/2007: Yvette from Choctaw, Oklahoma replies: "Response to Eve-Marlboro, MD -- I also had a reaction to vitamin c all my life. I was so sensitive I would eat an orange and breakout with rash in the back of my knees. I noticed you said your Dad was recommending a liquid supplement. I am taking a liquid all natural supplement. Have had no reactions at all. You are welcome to contact me."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  04/15/2007: Kula from Semarang, Indonesia writes: "vit c side effect: I had been consuming blended tomato, carrot and apple every morning (before breakfirst) since 2005 till last month. Lately I feel tight or cramp inside my neck. When I stopped those blended fruits, my throat/neck is OK."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  04/01/2007: Wendy from Ontario, Canada writes: "One thing worth noting is what vitamin c is made from... my children and I cannot eat corn and would get headaches when we would consume sodium ascorbate. Then I learned it is typically derived from corn! You can find 'corn free' pure grade sodium ascorbate online. I lost my source in Toronto and have had to get it from the U.S. via internet. From my understanding it can be derived from corn, beets, cassava... that's all I've found out so far. The corn free variety does not give us headaches."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  03/21/2007: Antoine from Los Angeles, California writes: "I was born allergic to Vitamin C. It causes me to itch all over my body, sometimes even break out in Hives. As a matter of fact, doctors have suggested that i even avoid taking ANY vitamins."

11/18/2008: David from Elkton, MD replies: "What you are allergic to are the fillers and/or bioflavanoids. You need vitamin C to live .. without it you get scurvy. Humans do not create their own vitamin C like most all other animals do.

Many ailments, like the common cold, are a kind of scurvy. In fact you can experience temporary acute scurvy by taking large Vit C doses over a long period and then stopping cold-turkey - it will last a day or so but you will experience all the symptoms of scurvy and then very quickly recover, so best bet is to taper off usage after consuming therapeutic ascorbate levels.

For allergy sensitive people your best bet is to get powdered pure ascorbic acid with no additives of any kind. Mix 1 teaspoon with 8 oz water, add sweetner if desired. Add .5 teaspoon of baking soda to neutralize the acid if desired to create sodium ascorbate.

If taking the acidic version (not buffered with baking soda), brush teeth after wards or it can attack enamel. If you keep it off your enamel vitamin C in your bloodstream will build your enamel (Vit C is also called the "invisible toothbrush" for this reason)."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/28/2007: Heather from Pompano Beach, FL writes: "Whenever I take Ester-C pills or use a Vitamin C facial cream, I get a really bad breakout on my face. It is almost like a rash. When I stop taking the pills or stop using the cream, the rash goes away in a couple of days. I have tried different types of these products, so I know it isn't just one manufacturer -- it's the Vitamin C."

11/18/2008: David from Elkton, MD replies: "It might be the calcium, as well as bioflavanoids. Ester C is C buffered with calcium and it also contains bioflavanids, and some people are more sensitive to calcium supplements than others and bioflavanoids are a problem for many people. Most creams with Vitamin C buffer it with calcium and throw rose hips and other junk in there to make it sound even more beneficial even though it's they're far more likely to give you an adverse reaction.

Skin especially needs vitamin C. It's a primary ingredient in the process of creating collagen which gives skin elasticity and keeps it from getting saggy.

I would suggest pure ascorbic acid for consumption. Most studies indicate pure Vit C is just as viable as buffered solutions and complexes including bioflavanoids.

With adequate C intake local application of the C to your skin should not be necessary. You could however put super concentrated vit C fluid + baking soda (to make sodium ascorbate, a non-acidic version of Vitamin C) in a dropper and rub it in to your face each night before you go to bed. Powdered pure vit C and baking soda is cheap and easily obtainable and I guarantee it will not give you a rash if mixed to become neutral."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/28/2007: Pat from Lamper, MO writes: "Recently had bladder infection, solved with soda and ACV. Nobody ever discusses Vit C problem. If I take Vit C or even a health bar with citric acid, I develop kidney or bladder problem. Would love to cleanse with your 1/4 tsp lemon, soda and pinch of Magnesium and potassium."

Ted from Bangkok replies: "Dear Pat: If I have a bladder infection or even a kidney problems, yes, vitamin C and citric acid is not helpful. But it is NOT the vitamin C or the citric acid being the problem. It is the pH of the things you are consuming. In event of this problem (uti), the pH should be over 8.

Vitamin C are of two types and people tend to lump them all together. One is the ascorbic acid which is acid and tends to promote bacteria growth by acidity. A sodium ascorbate vitamin C has a pH of about 8 and it prevents bacterial growth. A vitamin C can be both a pro-oxidant and an anti-oxidant depending on the pH. Vitamin C is a two edge sword. If the vitamin C is acid, it is a pro-oxidant. If the vitamin C is alkalline it is an anti-oxidant.

Citric acid and sodium citrate are very different, but chemically they are the similar in most ways, but at different pH.

When a baking soda is reacted with citric acid, it becomes sodium citrate and its pH is over 8. So in event of a kidney and bladder infection whatever you eat, its pH should be 8, or at least 7.

How do I know this is the issue. You mentioned you were helped with baking soda and ACV. The pH is about 7, but if reacted long enough it is between 7.5 to 8.0

It is the same with the other ones. It helps therefore to get a good pH paper and measure it and make sure it is alkaline and pH is about 8 in event of an infection.

Sea salt -- 1 teaspoon one dose only in one glass of water usually will kill the bladder infection. But for tough cases take this along with cranberry juice and some baking soda to increase the alkalinity of cranberry juice to about pH of 8. Sea salt pH is quite often pH is between 7.5 to 8.5. A good quality sea salt will have a pH of 8, a very bad one I have seen (overprocessed overpurified) can be as low as 6. A good sea salt is light brown and never bleached white."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  01/10/2007: John from Oakland, CA writes: "re: Large doses of Vitamin C. I took 3 grams/day for periodontal disease. I'm cutting back because I would sneeze so hard I became congested and would turn to inhalers. My lungs constricted."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  12/24/2006: Robert from Orlando, FL writes: "Whenever I get a toothache I think back to see if I took large amounts of vitamins, especially C, and then suddenly stopped. Toothaches can be the result of sudden withdrawal from vitamin C. If so, it's best to return to using it and gradually withdraw from its use rather than do it all at once. Sudden withdrawal from C can cause joint pains as well. Such pains are normally temporary, but they can be quite disconcerting if one doesn't know their source."

11/18/2008: David from Elkton, MD replies: "Congratulations: You're one of the first people I've ever encountered to correctly assess what is happening in this scenario. Most people blame it on the vitamin C, when in reality it's a reaction to going cold-turkey from the most beneficial nutrient known to mankind.

What you are experiencing when you go cold-turkey on Vit C is nothing less than acute scurvy. The phenomenon is technically known as "rebound scurvy" in orthomolecular circles. The condition is temporary and can be dangerous if a patient's health is already extremely weak, and it is avoided precisely as you have indicated.

Rebound scurvy is also used as a natural means to cause miscarriages, and perhaps the most dependable and safest ways to do so. In involves taking massive doses for a few days (like 10-30 grams per day) then going completely cold turkey. Some have wrongly concluded that the Vitamin C causes the miscarriage, but it is in fact the rebound scurvy brought on by starving a body of this essential molecule after it has grown accustomed to use it up quickly and not conserve it."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  12/20/2006: Sarah writes: "I take high doses of Vitamin C whenever I get a cold. I always get a rash on my abdomen, breasts and underarms afterward. I don't know if the vitamin C causes it, but I wonder now if the two are linked."

09/18/2008: Bret from Phoenix, Arizona replies: "I thought I had an allergy to vitamin c growing up. My pediatrician said no, it was an allergy to contaminants and biproducts. Some experts feel you cannot be allergic to a vitamin, but that plant biproducts, bioflavenoid, rhutin can induce allergic reactions. I know because I used to break out in pinpoint rash on my abdomen from vitamin c and had to take liquid drops which were pure. While I was growing up, I had to take this liquid form. If I was truly allergic to c, I would still have broken out, which I did not in the purest form.

Stay away from rose hips and extras. Buy the powder without the extra's. Buffered is good so don't mistake potassium, magnesium, calcium as extras. Just straight c, buffered or not.

Your liver used to make vitamin c as does every mammal. Somewhere along the line, primates lost their ability to manufacture their own c. This is why some people feel you can't be allergic to the vitamin, but can be allergic to the stuff that comes along with it. It's like being allergic to a hormone that your body already makes. If you take synthroid and have a reaction, chances are it's not the synthroid as your body manufactured this hormone naturally, it is something in the synthroid which causes reactions.

So seek out powder form, no flavenoids and such. No rose hips.

Good luck. This is a very important vitamin. Bret Peirce"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  12/14/2006: John from Cebu City, Philippines writes: "I've been taking vitamin C crystals and vitamin C powder alternately for quite some time now. i take it everyday together with vit.E. So far i haven't noticed any significant improvement as to my susceptibility to upper respiratory illnesses is concerned. My concern right now is my gaining of weight. which is very visible due to my increased body weight and size. i am not sure if it is really the pure vit.C (2-4 500mg capsules a day) that has caused the weigh increase but the time i started gaining weigh and taking pure vit.C came at the same time."

Ted from Bangkok replies: "The vitamin C depends on the TYPE OF VITAMIN C you are taking. There is the acid form and there is an alkaline form. The acid form of ascorbic acid will cause weight gain, while the alkaline form of vitamin C sodium ascorbate will cause a weight loss. An easy way to check is to add baking soda to the powdered vitamin C in to the glass of water. If there is a fizz, then it is an acid form. It appears you took an acid form of vitamin C. The biggest secret to weight loss is whether the food you are taking causes your urine to be acid or alkaline. This is the most effective method I have seen yet towards weight loss (plus the borax), but this remedy will never be as a well known weight loss as Dr. Atkins, but in practice, the acid/alkaline issue appears to be the foundation towards weight loss"

11/18/2008: David from Elkton, MD replies: "Also, 2-4 500mg capsules a day is not enough to affect your respiratory health. Vitamin C will not significantly affect your respiratory heath until you take 10 to 20 times more per day. You have to reach your therapeutic threshold for it to have any effect, otherwise you are mostly wasting vitamin C. You receive all the nutritional benefits at the concentrations you're using, but that will be useless for therapeutic effect.

In short, it is not advisable to megadose Vitamin C to prevent respiratory problems as the required concentrations are just too much for many people. Continue taking them at your current levels for general nutrition, but if respiratory problems get back start megadosing (15 to 100 grams / day), using bowel titration as your guide. Do a search for ascorbate bowel titration for more info. When your condition has alleviated go back to the low doses of 1-2 grams/day."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  12/13/2006: KB from Bridgeport, CT writes: "I ran across your request for vitamin C allergies. I experience bloating and weight when I take it and I don't know why. I've tried chewable forms, ascorbic acid, and calcium ascorbate. I also have similar reactions with other vitamins I've tried. I thought it might be a hidden filler or preservative. I have Graves Disease and am trying natural remedies. Any information you might have would be helpful"

Ted from Bangkok replies: "Ascorbic is acid forming and calcium ascorbate while alkaline tends to cause bloating also. The preferred form is ascorbic acid, powdered, then add baking soda until the fizz stops then add a pinch of potassium bicarbonate then add some water. This is alkaline forming and free of calcium. Calcium is often use for weight gain and is not recommended if you have bloating problems. Bloating problems is acid forming and ascorbic acid is never really recommended and this is why baking soda is always added. I found alkaline supplements of boron (in form of borax pH= 8) or baking soda (with pinch of potassium bicarbonate), quite often lead to weight loss since the food spends less time in digesting and therefore weight loss and bloating is reversed. Usually at least 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to 1/2 glass of water taken twice a day on an empty stomach will often quite slowly cause the body to be more alkaline and reduce bloating, however it is best to monitor the urinary pH and vary the dosage accordingly within the 6.5- 7.35 pH range. Most people who are constipated and bloating are quite often the urinary pH is often below 5.5 if they do have problems."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  12/05/2006: Leah from NH writes: "I started taking pure vitamin C as suggested by a doctor to try and get rid of my cold faster. Within a couple of days I broke out with a blistery rash on the palms on my hands. It itched somewhat and was very annoying. Once i stopped taking it the rash disappeared. I also developed the rash after drinking large amounts of V8 Splash juice which also contains large amounts of vitamin C."

11/18/2008: David from Elkton, MD replies: "It isn't the vitamin C. If Tomato juice causes it it's likely bioflavanoids that often come with vitamin C. You need C to survive, and your body doesn't produce it. You need to ingest it. Vitamin C is without doubt the most misunderstood nutrient and wrongfully disparaged therapeutic substance in modern medicine."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  06/04/2006: Denise from Temecula, CA writes: "I have never been able to take Vit C. Within four days of ingesting it I would break out in massive cold sores. This also occurs when I eat large amounts of citrus or organic home grown tomatoes."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  11/11/2009: Kt from Irvine, Ca replies: "I agree with people linking Vitamin-C to cold sores. So, I am not alone! When taken in a dose as high as 500mg I start to get cold sores or ones already present get worse, talking about lip-condition here. I wonder what the explanation is! Reacta-C is one I took and it gives me cold sore symptoms. If I buy a formula where Vitamin-C is a part, I make sure it's not more than 50mg or else I don't buy the formula at all. B-Complex for eg. comes with Vitamin-C as part of it, some with 50mg some with 500 mg. So yea, may be taking Vitamin-C in small doses is okay or make your own like suggested here by grinding dry citrus fruit peels."

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